Fragrance oils are complex combinations of raw materials with varying weights, viscosities, and flash points. When a candle burns, the wick draws up liquefied wax and fragrance via capillary action to fuel the flame.

Heavy, dense, or highly viscous fragrances (like many vanillas, spices, and complex woody scents) are harder for the wick to pull up, resulting in a weak flame. Conversely, lighter citrus or floral oils flow easily and might cause the same wick to burn hot. This is why a wick that works perfectly with one scent might underperform or overperform with another.

Yes, quite often. Candle dyes—whether liquid dyes or pigment blocks—contain particles that can physically clog the microscopic channels in a braided cotton wick. Because the dye slightly restricts fuel flow to the flame, you may need to size up by one wick size when adding moderate to heavy color to your candles to achieve a full melt pool.

If your container diameter sits right on the edge between two recommended wick sizes, start by testing the smaller size.

It is much safer and easier to correct a slightly under-wicked candle (which might just leave a bit of wax on the sides during early burns) than an over-wicked candle. Over-wicking can create an oversized flame, excessive soot, a dangerously hot container, and can cause the candle to burn down way too fast.

Double wicking is used for wide containers (typically anything greater than 3.5 inches in diameter) where a single wick cannot safely create a full melt pool.

Our article on multi-wicking candles teaches you how to double-wick candles. 

We recommend test burning candles in 4-hour increments, checking each hour to observe the melt pool, flame height, and hot throw. 

Testing a candle all the way to the bottom of the container over multiple 4-hour burns is critical because candles typically burn hotter as the flame moves lower and heat is trapped. 

Get more details on test burning in our How to Conduct a Basic Burn Test article.

Beeswax can be very difficult to wick. When, where, and how it was obtained all play a factor in how it will perform in candles. With so many variations, it's hard to give accurate wick recommendations for beeswax. For this reason, it will take a bit more testing to find the best one for your candle. We recommend the ECO wick series for your testing. We now offer 12 pc bags for each size so you can find the one that works best with your beeswax. 

If you have any questions or need help using the wick guide, please contact us.